January 2014 Briefing - Family Practice

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Family Practice for January 2014. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

Deal Could Trade Tort Reform for Additional Health Reform

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians may be willing to make a trade in accepting some additional health reform efforts in exchange for tort reform, according to an article published in the January issue of Health Affairs.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who undergo fertility evaluation and do not have a child have an increased likelihood of divorce or end of cohabitation, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of estrogen-only postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment may help reduce the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to research published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An intensive lifestyle intervention can reverse early glucose abnormalities in obese youth, according to a study published in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, independent of the use of biologic therapy, according to research published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Sixty-five percent of patients with chronic pancreatitis have osteoporosis or osteopenia, according to a meta-analysis published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Application of a four-stage model facilitated development of a successful intervention to prevent excessive weight gain in young adults, according to research published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Russians who drink vodka heavily have a higher risk of dying prematurely, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in The Lancet.

Abstract (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62247-3/abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62247-3/fulltext )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60038-6/fulltext )

AAP Approves Childhood Immunization Schedules for 2014

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules for 2014 have been approved, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement published in the Feb. 1 issue of Pediatrics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new model can predict the risk of medical complications, including major complications, after spine surgery, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should consider their clinical attire, such as white lab coats, carefully with regards to risk of transmitting infection, according to guidelines published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients presenting to the emergency department with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI), inappropriate utilization of antibiotics has decreased for children, but not for adults, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Data about ideal screening for delirium in elderly patients presenting in the emergency department are scarce, according to a review published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians generally use smartphones rather than tablets for professional purposes, they are more likely to read articles from medical publications and access medically oriented webcasts/podcasts on tablets, according to the results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) is efficacious for desensitization of children with peanut allergy, according to a phase 2 study published online Jan. 30 in The Lancet.

Abstract (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62301-6/abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62301-6/fulltext )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62671-9/fulltext )

Glaucoma-Related Blindness Down From 1965 to 2009

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of blindness due to open-angle glaucoma (OAG) decreased from 1965 to 2009, according to a study published in the January issue of Ophthalmology.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians in non-solo practice settings are paid using different methods, with just over half receiving all or most of their compensation from salary, according to a report from the American Medical Association.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Incident childhood obesity is more likely to occur at younger ages, with overweight 5-year-olds four times as likely to become obese compared to their normal-weight peers, according to research published in the Jan. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1309753?query=featured_home )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1315169?query=featured_home )

Androgen Deprivation Therapy Can Take Emotional Toll

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Changes in mental and emotional well-being occur in prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to research published in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Urology.

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 1990 to 2011, there was no decrease seen in shopping-cart-related injuries among children younger than 15 years treated in U.S. emergency departments, with a significant increase seen in the annual concussion/closed head injury rate, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in Clinical Pediatrics.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Marital history, including disruptions and age at marriage, is associated with bone health in men, while marital support correlates with bone health in women, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Osteoporosis International.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with high estradiol levels have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia, but the risk is 14-fold higher if they also have diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Neurology.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top five anesthesiology-related pain medicine issues that physicians and patients should question have been released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A child's age, medical history, presence of other injuries, location and type of fracture, and possible fracture mechanism must be evaluated fully to determine if injuries are caused by abuse, according to a clinical report published online Jan. 27 in Pediatrics.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The evidence relating to prevention and treatment of the common cold is frequently poor, but best evidence for prevention supports physical methods such as handwashing and possibly use of zinc supplements, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2014/01/27/cmaj.121442 )

Four Pillars Established for Promoting Primary Care Reform

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Four pillars have been identified for promoting primary care physician workforce reform, according to an article published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.annfammed.org/content/12/1/83.full )

Risk of Flu-Linked Hospitalization Up for Adults With Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Working-age adults with diabetes are at increased risk of all-cause hospitalizations associated with influenza, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Diabetologia.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the influx of newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act, physician practices should be prepared to spend even more time verifying coverage, according to an article published Jan. 2 in Medical Economics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A framework has been established to advance clinical learning environments that promote change in the quality and safety of care, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FITNESSGRAM (FGram) body mass index (BMI) thresholds are predictive of metabolic syndrome in U.S. adolescents, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with vitamin D to prevent disease does not appear to improve health outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet: Diabetes &amp; Endocrinology.

Abstract (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70212-2/abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70212-2/fulltext )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70008-7/fulltext )

Yoga Provides Health Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For breast cancer survivors, a 12-week yoga intervention improves fatigue and vitality and is associated with reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There may be good news coming in the form of a pill for the millions of Americans who suffer from ragweed allergy. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Allergenic Products Advisory Committee will consider whether to recommend approval of the first pill to prevent this annual scourge.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal cord injury rates in the United States are rising, and the leading cause now appears to be falls suffered by seniors rather than traffic crashes, according to a new study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists might be able to offer "hair-challenged" males a new glimmer of hope when it comes to reversing baldness, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Nature Communications.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Workplace wellness programs, particularly those with a disease management component, can reduce monthly health care costs for members, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Children exposed to large sibships who have an older sibling that exhibits high cognitive sensitivity are less likely to show low vocabulary skills, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Pediatrics.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top ten challenges for physicians in 2014 relate to payment for medical services and government mandates, as well as adapting to a changing patient population and the need to improve work-life balance, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hormone replacement therapy use (HRT) is associated with a reduction in revision rates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For a 50-year-old working person, the total economic cost to society for treatment of severe knee osteoarthritis is considerably lower with total knee arthroplasty than with nonoperative treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with celiac disease, the addition of quinoa to a gluten-free diet for six weeks is well tolerated, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to particulate matter is associated with increased risk of acute coronary events, even at levels below the current European limit values, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For men aged 50 to 75 years with acute coronary syndrome, short telomeres are independently associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When compared with peers without a history of cancer, children with cancer do not appear to have increased posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), according to research published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drivers with low levels of blood alcohol content (BAC) are more likely to be found at fault than sober drivers involved in crashes, according to research published online Jan. 7 in Injury Prevention.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In 2009, there were 7,391 hospitalizations for firearm-related injury among U.S. children and adolescents, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Pediatrics.

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- America's food labels may get their first makeover in more than 20 years. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency is working toward publishing proposed rules to update nutrition labels and serving size information.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Incorporating images that reflect the user may make Internet-based physical activity promotion tools more acceptable to users, including young overweight African-American women, according to a study published Jan. 16 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

Full Text (http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/13_0169.htm )

'War on Cancer' Has Made Progress

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More people are being diagnosed with and dying from cancer, but this is largely the result of declines in mortality from other causes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Supersized" pricing increases the quantity of food purchased and consumed because of focus on financial value, while diminishing the importance of health effects, according to a study published in the Journal of Marketing.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and aggressive disorders, the addition of risperidone to a combination of parent training and psychostimulant is associated with moderate improvement in aggressive and disruptive behaviors, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child &amp; Adolescent Psychiatry.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged men, physical activity and sedentary time are associated with the risk of heart failure, according to a study published in the January issue of Circulation: Heart Failure.

Abstract (http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1815006#Abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1815006 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1815005 )

Vitamin D Levels May Help Predict Prognosis in Multiple Sclerosis

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), a marker of vitamin D status, early in the course of illness may predict higher risk of increased disease activity and progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Neurology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 80 percent of patients at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes think they are in excellent or very good health, according to a new survey from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ultrasound devices represent an important point-of-care diagnostic modality, which is increasingly being used in numerous specialties, according to an editorial published in the December issue of Global Heart.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.globalheart-journal.com/article/S2211-8160(13)00171-3/fulltext )

Medical Staff Performance Goals Should Be Clear, Attainable

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Staff performance in medical practices needs to be appropriately managed and measured with performance goals, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Postpartum depression can become chronic in 30 to 50 percent of women with the condition, according to a review published in the January issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About &#36;3 billion in health costs in 2008 could be attributed to bisphenol A (BPA) exposure, and removing BPA from all food uses could save nearly &#36;2 billion annually, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Health Affairs.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The case of a Texas woman who died after becoming infected in New Mexico with the mosquito-borne dengue virus highlights a need for U.S. doctors to recognize the disease early, experts say. This is the third locally acquired dengue-related death in the United States, according to a report published in the Jan. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Few dermatology patients engage in skin cancer screening behaviors, and most have poor knowledge about melanoma, with lower understanding among minority patients, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of cumulative concussion is 13.0 percent per season for female soccer players aged 11 to 14 years, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Pediatrics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Formaldehyde concentrations in Brazilian keratin treatment hair straightening products may exceed recommended safety levels, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of cesarean sections in a subset of U.S. states increased between 2006 and 2009 and then declined through 2012, according to a report published in the Jan. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vital Statistics Reports.

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An outbreak of exposure to a novel synthetic cannabinoid was rapidly controlled in Colorado, according to a letter to the editor published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1313655 )

Results of Safety Efforts for Hospitalized Patients Are Mixed

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Based on Medicare data for 2005 through 2011, adverse-event rates declined for patients hospitalized for some conditions, but not others, according to research published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1300991 )

Added Prostate CA Criteria May Help ID Surveillance Candidates

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Additional predictors, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and extent of cancer on biopsy, help guide selection of prostate cancer patients for active surveillance programs, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- State inaction and tobacco industry tactics are slowing tobacco control efforts in the United States, a new report from the American Lung Association (ALA) finds.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of infertility services among women has been declining in recent years in the United States, according to a report published Jan. 22 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

More Information (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr073.pdf )

Phase 3 Studies Fail to Show Benefit of Drugs in Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, neither bapineuzumab nor solanezumab improves cognitive outcomes, according to two studies published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text - Salloway (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1304839 )Full Text - Doody (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1312889?query=featured_home )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1313943?query=featured_home )

Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Larger Brain Volume

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In postmenopausal women, a higher omega-3 index is associated with increased brain and hippocampal volume eight years later, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Neurology.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The readmission rate following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is 2.5 percent, and hypertension may increase the likelihood of readmission, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Uninsured patients are significantly less likely than insured patients to be transferred between hospitals, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1814423 )

PCP Practices Not Well Organized for Providing Energy Balance Care

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physician (PCP) practices are not well organized for providing energy balance care, with considerable variation in provision of care between PCP specialties, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is seen in about 7 percent of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with significant in-hospital mortality, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://interventions.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleID=1816740 )

Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts is associated with a lower risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1817779 )

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) is associated with increased health care utilization and costs, adding approximately &#36;2.88 billion in health care expense annually, according to a study published in the January issue of The Laryngoscope.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The rationale behind the decision making processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is discussed in three articles published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In contrast to a recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) among high-risk individuals.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Enjoyment of life is associated with future disability and mobility in the elderly, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of experiencing worse pain at six months post-surgery is increased with a waiting time of 12 weeks or more for elective surgical lumbar discectomy (ESLD), according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Believing that they are delivering high-quality patient care is key to physician job satisfaction, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older women, increased sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk after multivariate adjustment, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of unplanned admission is increased with polypharmacy, but the association is modified by the number of long-term conditions, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to firearms is associated with increased risk for suicide and homicide, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A community pharmacy-based medication synchronization program can improve medication adherence, according to a study conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Lasers may be a promising treatment for onychomycosis but larger studies are needed to determine optimal treatment conditions, according to a review published online Dec. 24 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with coronary artery disease treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT), anatomic, but not ischemic, burden predicts poor outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://interventions.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1814953 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://interventions.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1814954 )

Statin Use Linked to Reduced Delirium in ICU Patients

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), statin use is associated with a reduced risk of delirium, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have sleep disordered breathing (SDB), according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An online resource has been developed for improving the detection and management of high blood pressure. The resource is part of the American Medical Association's Improving Health Outcomes Initiative which aims to improve outcomes around heart disease, starting with the 30 million people who have uncontrolled hypertension.

More Information (http://jnc8.jamanetwork.com/ )

Markers Other Than HbA1c Useful for Monitoring Diabetes

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fructosamine and glycated albumin are markers of glycemic control that may complement hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in identifying risk of diabetes and its complications, according to research published online Jan. 15 in The Lancet Diabetes &amp; Endocrinology.

Abstract (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70199-2/abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70199-2/fulltext )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70003-8/fulltext )

Considerable Variation in Quality of Care for Tonsillectomy

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Considerable variation is observed across hospitals in the quality of care for routine tonsillectomy among children, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Pediatrics.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight and obese adults drink more diet beverages than healthy-weight adults, but eat more solid-food calories and consequently have comparable total calorie intake, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Asking patients single screening questions (SSQs) in the primary care setting is an effective method for identifying substance dependence, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- American adults are eating healthier diets, making better use of nutrition information on food labels, consuming more fiber and less cholesterol, and getting fewer calories from total fat and saturated fat, a federal government report says.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In the United States, approximately 18 percent of adults still smoke, according to a report published in the Jan. 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Subjective well-being is similar for U.S. adults who live with and without children, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, about 20 percent of hospitalizations are potentially avoidable, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Head Start child-care providers have greater compliance with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommended feeding practices than Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and non-CACFP providers, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variants that predispose to diabetes are not associated with the rate of progression from diabetes to requirement of insulin treatment, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in Diabetes Care.

Abstract (http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1812719#Abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1812719 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1812718 )

PAs, NPs Are Effective in Team-Based Diabetes Care

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can effectively perform a range of roles on primary care teams caring for patients with diabetes, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Several adverse cardiovascular events following consumption of energy drinks have been reported in the literature, according to a review published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Full Text 1 (subscription or payment may be required) (http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2013-44730-001/ )Full Text 2 (subscription or payment may be required) (http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2013-44727-001/ )

Race Linked to Age-Appropriate Use of Child Car Seats

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Age-appropriate use of child passenger restraint differs by race even when other factors such as education and income are considered, according to research published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Advanced cognitive training is beneficial for elderly persons, with long-term improvements seen for reasoning and speed-of-processing training, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Few primary care providers (PCPs) recommend antidepressants for adolescents with depression, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Developmental &amp; Behavioral Pediatrics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurance exchanges in five states with strong enrollment growth are ramping up efforts to reach even more uninsured Americans before the end of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period on March 31. The March 31 deadline is for people who want health coverage for 2014.

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A reliable set of emotion words have been identified that can serve as a tool for experience-based design questionnaires in health care, according to a study published in the December issue of Healthcare.

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For participants with incident type 2 diabetes, there is a J-shaped association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, with a linear relationship seen among never smokers, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1304501 )

Funding Losses Damaging Public Health Infrastructure

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The effect of funding losses on state public health programs is assessed and described in a study published Nov. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

Full Text (http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2013/13_0130.htm )

Experts Predict ACA's Areas of Primary Care Impact

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will transform primary care, and predictions of this impact center around some common themes, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that physicians stop prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products containing more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet, according to a safety alert issued by the agency.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Pritelivir is safe and effective for treatment of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 infection, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Exposure to Some Phthalates Fell in the Last Decade

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to some phthalates has fallen over the last decade and may be associated with bans on their use, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Environmental Health Perspectives.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Stigmatizing messages targeted at combating obesity may have negative effects, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The perception of student drug testing does not appear to reduce substance use in high school, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prophylaxis with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 during the first three months of life correlates with a reduction in functional gastrointestinal disorder symptoms and associated costs, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in JAMA Pediatrics.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients who have undergone curative surgery for primary colorectal cancer, intensive monitoring is associated with increased surgical treatment of recurrence compared with minimum follow-up, but does not reduce the number of deaths, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There continues to be a high prevalence of school-based commercialism of food and beverages, according to research published online Jan. 13 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Beliefs About Safety May Spark E-Cigarette Use in Young Adults

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young adults who believe that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are less harmful and can help people quit smoking are more likely to try them, according to research published online Jan. 7 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prognostic factors have been identified to predict return to work (RTW) among patients with sciatica, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in late pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, although the absolute risks are small, according to a review published online Jan. 14 in BMJ.

Full Text (http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.f6932 )

CAM Common in Children With Developmental Disabilities

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among families of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD), according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Developmental &amp; Behavioral Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of intussusception is still increased after administration of the new rotavirus vaccines, but the risk is lower than that seen with previous vaccines, according to two studies published online Jan. 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The studies were published ahead-of-print to coincide with the sixth annual Sentinel Initiative Public Workshop at the Brookings Institution, held on Jan. 14 in Washington, D.C.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a half of an avocado at lunch dampens appetite for the next several hours in overweight adults, according to research published online Nov. 27 in the Nutrition Journal.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The organizational climate in primary care settings influences the professional practice of nurse practitioners (NPs), according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of Professional Nursing.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall obesity trends among adolescents indicate socioeconomic disparities, with increased prevalence among adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES), according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to methylisothiazolinone (MI) may be increasing and should be considered in cases with a history of wet wipe use, according to a case series published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of emergency department visits (EDVs) related to intentional injuries in schools is considerable, with increased risk for an EDV for injuries occurring in the school setting versus outside the school setting, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's still time to enroll in a health insurance plan through one of the Affordable Care Act's new online marketplaces. Those who sign up by Wednesday will have coverage starting next month.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Artificial sweeteners do not produce any changes in glucose metabolism compared to a glass of water, according to a letter published in the December issue of Diabetes Care.

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 2.2 million Americans had selected health plans through the federal and state marketplaces as of late December, and nearly one in four was a young adult, the Obama administration disclosed Monday.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nut consumption is inversely associated with obesity and with metabolic syndrome, with stronger associations seen for tree nuts, according to research published online Jan. 8 in PLOS ONE.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Testosterone testing and supplementation have increased substantially over the last decade, with many men in the United States initiating treatment even though they have normal levels, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medicaid expansion to include substance use disorder (SUD) treatment does not guarantee access, particularly in underserved and rural counties, according to a study published online Dec. 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An adult meal at a typical full-service restaurant chain contains about 1,495 kcal, 28 g saturated fat, and 3,512 mg sodium, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Human rhinovirus (HRV) infection is a common pathogen seen in young children with respiratory infection symptoms, with severe disease caused mainly by presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in coinfections, prematurity, congenital heart disease, and noninfectious respiratory disease, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of vulvodynia varies with age, ethnicity, and marital status, and is associated with previous symptoms or intermediate symptoms not meeting criteria for vulvodynia, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology.

Abstract (http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/publishahead/Factors_Associated_With_Vulvodynia_Incidence.99584.aspx )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/publishahead/Factors_Associated_With_Vulvodynia_Incidence.99584.aspx )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Citation/publishahead/_Doctor,_It_Hurts_horizontal_ellipsis__.99597.aspx )

Early BPA Exposure May Up Subsequent Prostate Cancer Risk

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may increase the risk for prostate cancer later in life, according to an experimental study published online Jan. 1 in Endocrinology.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2005 to 2009, the incidence of lung cancer decreased among men and women in the United States, according to a study published in the Jan. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of suicide attempts among children and adolescents treated with individual selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) does not differ compared with that among current users of fluoxetine, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A proposed rule has been issued that will strengthen protections, improve health care quality, and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries with private Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS).

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Short-term survival after elective total hip (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) has greatly improved since the early 1990s, even though comorbidities have increased, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Arthritis &amp; Rheumatism.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a new survey show that physicians are concerned about declining reimbursements and increasing administrative hassles, including negotiating with payers, obtaining prior authorizations, and cutting through government red tape, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For women from South China, breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially a longer duration of breastfeeding, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Rheumatology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A high level of serum uric acid prior to implantation of bare-metal coronary stents predicts stent restenosis, according to research published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Having at least one woman on teams that convene scientific symposia increases the proportion of invited female speakers by 72 percent, compared with teams containing all men, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in mBio.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall national health expenditures were marked by a fourth consecutive year of low growth, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Apart from asthma and allergies, ultramarathon runners have few chronic medical conditions and miss little time from school or work due to injuries, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in PLOS ONE.

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to improve health care and eliminate wasteful practices, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed a series of High Value Care cases studies, available online for free.

More Information (http://hvc.acponline.org )

Only One in Six Adults Discuss Alcohol Use With Physician

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The overall prevalence of ever discussing alcohol use with a health professional is 15.7 percent for U.S. adults, according to a report published in the Jan. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to children exposed in utero to sodium valproate, children exposed in utero to levetiracetam for treatment of maternal epilepsy have superior language and motor development at age 36 to 54 months, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in Neurology.

Abstract (http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/01/08/WNL.0000000000000030.abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/01/08/WNL.0000000000000030.full.pdf+html )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/01/08/WNL.0000000000000044.short )

Most Ped OTC Liquid Med Labels Adhere to FDA Dosing Guidelines

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most over-the-counter (OTC) pediatric liquid medication directions adhere to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration dosing recommendations; and maternal OTC analgesic use is associated with child use of OTC analgesics, according to two studies published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Extended use of the smoking cessation medication varenicline improves abstinence rates among the mentally ill, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients whose care needs exceed standard outpatient care but do not qualify for admission, observation services (OS) stays are not usually longer than 48 hours, but prolonged stays are associated with a considerable increase in costs, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Only one-quarter of U.S. youth aged 12 to 15 years meet reccomended physical activity guidelines by engaging in at least 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

More Information (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db141.htm )

Fit Teen Males Less Likely to Have Myocardial Infarction Later in Life

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Males who are fit in late adolescence are less likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) later in life, according to research published in the January issue of the European Heart Journal.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- All-cause and cancer-specific mortality is lower in postmenopausal women who follow the American Cancer Society (ACS) Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines, according to research published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with episodic migraine, the information provided about drug/placebo impacts drug effects, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing the threshold of leukocytosis as a criterion for appendicitis to 8,000 to 9,000 white blood cells (WBCs) per &#181;L reduces the rates of negative appendectomy, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Pediatrics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Tight glycemic control in critically ill children using intravenous insulin results in similar clinical outcomes as conventional glycemic control, but with a higher risk of hypoglycemia, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1302564?query=featured_home )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1313770?query=featured_home )

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Best for Cancer Patients With Insomnia

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the preferred choice over mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for nonpharmacologic management of insomnia in patients with cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An upper-airway stimulation device significantly reduces the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in patients who cannot receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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FDA Approves Farxiga for Type 2 Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Farxiga (dapaglifozin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, the agency said Wednesday in a news release.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Manufacturing problems have created a shortage of the liquid form of Tamiflu, which is designed for young children who can't swallow capsules, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Combination treatment with varenicline plus bupropion sustained-release is initially more effective than varenicline alone in promoting smoking abstinence, but the results are not long-lasting, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many general internists are unfamiliar with care guidelines for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and, on average, are somewhat uncomfortable caring for these patients, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Surgical Management of Pediatric Otitis Media Reviewed

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A systematic review of the comparative efficacy of surgical treatments for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children has been published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with 2006 to 2007, smoking rates among health care professionals for 2010 to 2011 continue to be lowest in physicians and highest in licensed practical nurses (LPNs), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

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Importance of Religion Linked to Cortical Thickness

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The self-reported importance of religion or spirituality is associated with the thickness of certain brain regions, according to research published online Dec. 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More specialist providers, including vascular surgeons and cardiologists, are needed to meet the care needs of a growing elderly population, according to research published in the November issue of Health Affairs.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate evidence suggests that meditation is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Abstract (http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1809754#Abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1809754 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1809753 )

Workers' Compensation Data Captures Back Pain Experience

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Workers' compensation data can be used to capture a partial understanding of workers' low back pain (LBP) experiences, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of Spine.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in men and women, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Neurology.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco control is estimated to have prevented eight million premature deaths since 1964 in the United States; and the prevalence of global smoking has declined since 1980, according to two studies published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily for the past two decades, with the magnitude of the decrease varying with age, race, and sex, according to a report published online Jan. 7 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is associated with reduction in the risk of new-onset diabetes among older adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1811025 )

Preemie Crying Linked to Later Behavioral Problems

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Early crying in preterm infants is associated with later child behavioral problems, and an education program can reduce postnatal depression symptoms as well as infant sleep and cry problems, according to two studies published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of cognitive activity are associated with longer duration of symptoms in youth with sports-related concussion, according to research published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has expressed their support for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's tentative determination regarding partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) as food additives.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking cessation correlates with a reduction in the risk of cataract extraction, although the risk persists for more than 20 years, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care costs in the year following discharge for an inpatient surgical procedure are increased for former and current smokers, compared with never smokers, although there are no differences with smoking status in costs for the index hospitalization, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in JAMA Surgery.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Non-medically indicated early-term delivery is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality, and interventions to reduce these deliveries are encouraged, according to a review published in the November issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Performance measures have been developed for adults undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a report published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Herpes Zoster Is Risk Factor for Stroke in Young Adults

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Herpes zoster (HZ) is an independent risk factor for vascular disease, including stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and myocardial infarction (MI), particularly in those affected before the age of 40 years, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in Neurology.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with long-term increased risks of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1792913 )

Health Law Calls for Calorie Counts on Vending Machines

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There may be a lot more counting of calories when people buy snacks from vending machines or order food in certain restaurants under rules currently being crafted as part of the final phase of the Affordable Care Act.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While slower eating speed reduces hunger, it does not significantly lower caloric intake in overweight/obese individuals, according to research published online Jan. 2 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About one-third of adolescents have annual health maintenance visits without any mention of sexuality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Abstract (http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791584#Abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791584 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791582 )

Unrestricted Hospital Visiting Hours Up Patient Satisfaction

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Open visitation improves the patient and family experience and does not cause interference for hospital staff, according to research published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence-based treatment guidelines for menopause management include personalizing treatment for optimal symptom relief, according to a Practice Bulletin published in the January issue of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology.

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One hundred twenty-three new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been formed by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, which will provide access to high-quality coordinated care for about 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians are exploring expansion into urgent care as a means to grow their practice, but some important factors should be assessed before jumping in, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The performance of secondary tasks while driving is associated with increased risk of crashes and near-crashes, especially among novice drivers, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence from published observational studies suggests that maternal sleep-disordered breathing is associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes, according to research published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of having a stroke in the first month after initiating treatment with the anti-clotting drug warfarin, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in European Heart Journal.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is no association between either clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Neurology.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A clinical pathway combining the Samuel's pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and selective use of ultrasonography (US) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing appendicitis in children, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Pediatrics.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among critical care nurses, clinical-decision regret is associated with sleep disturbances and the resulting fatigue, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Critical Care.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The planned use of an experimental Neisseria meningitides serogroup B (MenB) meningitis vaccine at the University of Princeton has raised several contentious issues relating to vaccination, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Dec. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1794331 )

Most Women Experience Breast Cancer Postoperative Pain

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most women with unilateral non-metastasized breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery or mastectomy with axillary surgery experience postoperative pain at 12 months, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1810368 )

Usage, Cost of Antibiotics for Children Higher in U.S. Versus U.K.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For young children, the usage and cost of antibiotics is considerably higher in the United States than in the United Kingdom, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Pharmacotherapy.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transitions and their associated challenges are encountered throughout a doctors' medical career, according to an editorial published online Nov. 26 in BMJ.

Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7086 )

CDC: Updated Guidance for HBV Vaccination for Health Workers

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should be vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) if they anticipate exposure to blood or body fluids, and receive serologic testing to assess for antibody against the virus, according to updated guidelines published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite a looming physician shortage, the number of residency positions in the United States has not changed since 1996, creating a bottleneck that will become worse with further budget cuts, according to a blog post published Dec. 7 on KevinMD.com.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, alpha tocopherol is associated with slower functional decline versus placebo, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Abstract (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1810379#Abstract )Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1810379 )Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1810360 )

Patient Experience of Service Quality Predicts CRC Survival

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with colorectal cancer, satisfaction with quality of care is associated with survival, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Emotions are associated with culturally universal, topographically distinct bodily sensations, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The deadline for making changes to Medicare participation status has been extended to Jan. 31, 2014, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top 10 most Google-searched symptoms in 2013 included those for pregnancy, influenza, and diabetes, but not those for cancer or heart disease, according to an article published Dec. 18 in Medical Economics.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Female adolescents requesting emergency contraception (EC) at pharmacies are often given incorrect information, partly due to confusion about changing regulations, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After routine care of patients infected with Clostridium difficile, C. difficile spores were detected on the hands of about a quarter of health care workers (HCWs), according to research published in the January issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Full Text (http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/674396 )

Positive Outcomes With Improved Hemorrhoidectomy Information

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing day-case hemorrhoidectomy, improved quality of patient information is associated with positive outcomes, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Healthcare Quality.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Work Relationships Scale (WRS) seems to be a valid tool for measuring the quality of relationships in primary care settings, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.